Ex-BBC boss apologizes for $163M digital failure

LONDON—The former boss of the BBC has apologized for the failure of its digital media plan, which wasted almost 100 million pounds ($163 million) of taxpayer funds.

Mark Thompson, who left the BBC in 2012 to become the chief executive of The New York Times, was one of several current and former BBC employees testifying about the failed plan before a British parliamentary committee.

He said Monday the plan "failed as a project," despite earlier giving evidence that it was working well.

A government audit found that the BBC's Digital Media Initiative—which aimed to create an integrated digital production and archiving system—ran aground because of confusion and poor planning.

It was quickly scrapped by current BBC chief Tony Hall after he began in April 2013.